Turnip aphid

Lipaphis erysimi

General

• Aphid widely distributed throughout the world and native to Europe.
• Also present in tropical to temperate climate zones.
• Occasionally encountered on cabbage leaves.
• A vector of several viruses, including turnip mosaic virus and cauliflower mosaic virus.
• Observed in the open field as well as under shelters.

• Sensitive botanical family (s)

• Affected production areas :

• Organs attacked

Symptoms, damage

• Aphids generally located on the underside of leaves, on both sides of cabbage leaves in the event of outbreaks
• Leaf curling and curling.
• General weakening of plants in case of high population.
• production of honeydew on the limb causing the appearance of sooty mold.

Biology

• Reproduction by parthenogenesis, without fertilization. Larvae or eggs are directly produced by adult females.
• Each female produces 80 to 100 aphids at a rate of 4 to 6 larvae per day.
• The lifespan of the female varies from 20 to 40 days.
• Measuring 1.4 and 2.5 mm long, the aphids have brown cornicles, and are yellow-green to dark gray in color.
• The winged forms are visible when the colony becomes important.

Protection

• Weed the crop and its surroundings.
• Check the sanitary quality of the plants before and during their introduction into the crop or shelter.
• Proper management of fertilization by limiting excess inputs limits the susceptibility of plants to attacks by aphids and other pests.
• Plant cabbage sheltered from the wind to avoid contamination between plots.
• Destroy contaminated crop residues after harvest.
• Crop rotations without brassicas should reduce the presence of the pest that is confined to this botanical family.